One of the best things about having a space like VSB for eight (!!!) years is that it allows for growth, progression, and evolution to be tracked, archived, and curated. We've seen relationships form at the molecular level, and we've watched them grow. (And, in some cases, end.) We've seen VSB-related marriages and babies. We've seen friends who were still grad students when they first started frequenting VSB become PhDs (and even better friends).

And, in Luvvie's case, we've seen someone grow from popular blogger and early VSB commentator — a VSB commentator who, waaaaaay back in the day, used to battle others to leave the first comment on our new posts — to a New York Times best-selling author! So when she reached out a few months ago to ask me to join her for the DC stop on her I'm Judging You national tour, of course I had to oblige.

As I sat on stage with her during our conversation — which over 600 people attended — asking her to share some details about her journey and the book publishing process, I couldn't help but think about how proud of her I was. I was motherfucking verklempt. The success she's experiencing now couldn't be happening to a better and more deserving (and more ready/prepared for it) person.